Friday, January 20, 2017

THREAT OF MARTIAL LAW, RUMOURS OF COUP D’ETAT

Here we go again. There
is the incumbent administration that is perceived as downright nonchalant about
extra-judicial killings, day and night, from Monday to Sunday. The same highest government authority in the
Country is neither that prudent in the use of words and phrases that are
considered markedly offensive to hear on the part of genuine ladies and true
gentlemen. And exactly the same supreme
public figure has become the topic of news and conversations in certain foreign
Countries some of which are downright offended while others are very pleased
with his loud and repeated conviction, his vociferous stance and pursuant
agenda. In fact, the same national
personality expressly and clearly mentioned “Martial
Law” – definitely more than once – as a contemplated option and reasonable
response particularly to the prohibited
yet much patronized drug industry in the Country, causing the consequent spread
of criminality plus the reign of the then local and now even imported terrorism
particularly in a given otherwise singular – naturally rich and beautiful
region in the Country.

How serious is the threat of the imposition of Martial Law,
this is hard to say.

So it is that with the perceived expressed option of the
declaration of martial Law supposedly to bring the Country to its eventual
stability and unity, peace and prosperity, there came to fore the apparently
secret countermove to unseat the prime mover
for a Martial Law Regime once more – something perceived as odious based
on the history of the Country that suffered long and much for dictatorship
considered synonymous with Martial Law. In
Philippine history, where the term/reality of martial Law became an odious
episode in the life of the Country and where up to this date and time, someone
identified with it still caused loud repeated protests upon his burial in a
hallowed ground, it is understandable that there is an apparently growing
countermove to put a stop to the supposedly prime mover of said Martial Law –
in the spirit of “Never again!”

How true is this movement in contra?

Very much more than the truth or the reality of the perceived
countermove, what should be known and duly analyzed is the constituency of
those said to be thus mobbing against the imposition of martial law by
neutralizing the perceived would-be enforcer thereof. Different perceptions have already come to fore. There are those who say that it is a matter
of color – such as the “yellow”
people with their given political
affiliation and agenda. it is said that alone
they are not – considering that there are also groups of citizens who are not exactly
happy, much less blessed with their experience of the then Martial Law regime,
taking into account the losses they then had and the consequent grief they thus
experienced.

Would the imposition of Martial Law in the Country succeed?

The question brings to fore a more relevant question – taking
into consideration the downfall of the Martial Law regime specifically on the
occasion of the world famous EDSA Revolution:
Aside from the “yellow”
brigade, are center high-ranking military officials in accord therewith? More.
Are there a good number of Church people – irrespective of creed or sect
– likewise in accord with the “yellow”
plus said men in uniform? It is worth
remembering that the EDSA phenomenon was premised on said tripod. Needless to say, these are uneasy times.

Oscar Cruz

About The Blogger

Most Reverend Oscar V. Cruz, D.D. is the Archbishop-Emeritus of Lingayen-Dagupan. He is currently the Judicial Vicar of the National Tribunal of Appeals. He is a prolific writer, having published several dozen books mostly on judicial and moral matters. His most recent book is about the Social Doctrines of the Church. He also has a blog where he posts regularly. He is an avid coin collector and dabbles in woodworking art.